990-PF

Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Trust Treated as Private Foundation

Agency
IRS
Revision
2025
Fillable fields
1147
Pages
13
Official source
IRS form page
Checked
October 21, 2026
Fill 990-PF online
Page 1 of form 990-PF

Form 990-PF (2025): Return of Private Foundation

Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Trust Treated as Private Foundation, is an annual information return. The instructions say it is used to figure the tax based on investment income and to report charitable distributions and activities. It also serves as a substitute for the income tax return of a section 4947(a)(1) nonexempt charitable trust, Form 1041, when the trust has no taxable income.

The return covers revenue and expenses, balance sheets, capital gains, the excise tax based on investment income, statements about activities, officers and pay, charitable activities, the minimum investment return, the distributable amount and qualifying distributions. The form is marked Open to Public Inspection and says not to enter social security numbers on it, as it may be made public.

This page has the 2025 form, for calendar year 2025 or a tax year beginning in 2025. The instructions say a 2025 Form 990-PF is required to be filed electronically. You can fill out the PDF free in your browser on this page to prepare or review it, and download the result without an account.

What's on Form 990-PF

Heading, items A to J

EIN, telephone, return type boxes, type of organization, fair market value of all assets at end of year, and accounting method.

Parts I to III: finances

Revenue and expenses in four columns, beginning and end of year balance sheets, and the analysis of changes in net assets or fund balances.

Parts IV and V: investment income tax

Capital gains and losses, then the excise tax. Line 1b shows 1.39% (0.0139) of line 27b for domestic foundations and 4% (0.04) for exempt foreign organizations.

Parts VI-A to VIII-B: activities and people

Statements regarding activities, questions about acts for which Form 4720 may be required, officers, directors and highly paid employees, and charitable activities and program-related investments.

Parts IX to XIII: distributions

Minimum investment return, distributable amount, qualifying distributions, undistributed income, and the private operating foundation tests.

Parts XIV to XVI and signature

Supplementary information including grants paid, income-producing activities and transfers to noncharitable exempt organizations, then the officer's and paid preparer's signatures.

How to complete Form 990-PF

  1. 1

    Use the sequencing chart

    The instructions offer an order so amounts are ready when needed: Part IV first, then Parts I and II, the heading, Part III, Part VI-A, Part VII and onward.

  2. 2

    Fill in the heading

    Enter the tax year, name, EIN and address, check the return and organization type, and enter the end of year fair market value of all assets from Part II, column (c), line 16.

  3. 3

    Answer every line

    The instructions say to answer Yes, No or N/A to each question, make an entry (including a zero when appropriate) on all total lines, and enter None or N/A if an entire part does not apply.

  4. 4

    Column (d) on cash basis

    Part I, column (d), disbursements for charitable purposes, is completed on the cash receipts and disbursements method, as the form and instructions say.

  5. 5

    Complete the parts that apply

    The instructions say all domestic foundations complete Part IX. The form says to complete Part XIV only if the foundation had $5,000 or more in assets at any time during the year.

  6. 6

    Sign

    An authorized officer or trustee signs, dates and enters a title. A paid preparer, if any, completes the Paid Preparer Use Only area.

Why fill Form 990-PF on indox

You get the real form, filled in a browser tab, with nothing standing between you and the finished PDF.

  • Fill the form right in your browser, no software to install
  • Free to fill and free to download, with no account
  • The official blank straight from the IRS, not a copy someone retyped
  • Works on a phone, tablet or computer

When and how to file, extensions and penalties

Due date

The instructions say by the 15th day of the 5th month following the close of the foundation's tax year, or the next business day if that falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

Electronic filing

The instructions say a 2025 Form 990-PF is required to be filed electronically, and point to IRS.gov/EOefile for e-file providers.

Extension

The instructions say a foundation generally uses Form 8868 to request an automatic extension of time to file its return.

Late filing penalty

The instructions list $25 a day ($130 a day for a large organization), up to the lesser of $13,000 ($65,000 for a large organization) or 5% of gross receipts, unless due to reasonable cause.

State copies

If state law requires it, foundation managers furnish a copy of Form 990-PF to the state Attorney General at the same time the return is filed with the IRS.

Public inspection

The instructions say a private foundation makes its annual returns and exemption application available for public inspection.

Related forms

Who files Form 990-PF?

  • Private foundations

    Private foundations exempt under section 501(a), and taxable private foundations under section 6033(d).

  • Pending or claimed status

    Organizations that agree to private foundation status with an exemption application pending on the due date, and some that claim the status but have not yet applied.

  • Section 4947(a)(1) trusts

    Nonexempt charitable trusts treated as private foundations. Trusts not treated as private foundations do not file Form 990-PF and may file Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.

  • Terminating foundations

    Private foundations making a section 507(b) termination, and organizations that made an election under section 41(e)(6)(D)(iv).

  • Not public charities

    Churches, hospitals, schools and other organizations described in sections 509(a)(1) through (4) are excluded from private foundation status and may file Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N.

  • Signers and paid preparers

    An authorized officer or trustee signs. The instructions say anyone paid to prepare the return generally signs the Paid Preparer Use Only area.

The instructions list the organizations that file it. An authorized officer signs it, or the authorized trustee for a trust.

Official sources and the blank

Do it all with indox

View all 123 tools

Questions about Form 990-PF

Who files Form 990-PF?

The instructions list private foundations exempt under section 501(a), taxable private foundations, section 4947(a)(1) nonexempt charitable trusts treated as private foundations, and certain organizations with pending or claimed private foundation status.

When is Form 990-PF due?

The instructions say by the 15th day of the 5th month following the close of the foundation's tax year, moved to the next business day when it falls on a weekend or legal holiday.

Can Form 990-PF be filed on paper?

The instructions say a 2025 Form 990-PF is required to be filed electronically. They add that e-file is only available for the current tax year and 2 prior tax periods, and that older returns are paper filed.

How does a foundation get more time to file?

The instructions say a foundation generally uses Form 8868 to request an automatic extension of time to file its return.

Is Form 990-PF public?

The form is marked Open to Public Inspection, and it says not to enter social security numbers on it as it may be made public.

What excise tax rate does the 2025 form show?

Part V, line 1b shows 1.39% (0.0139) of line 27b for domestic foundations, and 4% (0.04) of Part I, line 12, column (b) for exempt foreign organizations.

Does a section 4947(a)(1) trust also file Form 1041?

The instructions say a trust with no taxable income may use Form 990-PF to satisfy its Form 1041 filing requirement by checking the box on Part VI-A, line 15.